Tamper-Evident Container

ABSTRACT

A container includes a finish having a mouth and a first engagement structure that secures a closure to the finish. The container is characterized by a frangible portion of the finish that engages the closure when the closure is secured to the container such that the frangible portion must be separated from the finish at a frangible connector to remove the closure from the container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to finishes for plastic containers and closuresand particularly to finishes that provide evidence of having been openedafter the initial sealing.

BACKGROUND

Unscrupulous vendors may salvage used containers such as plastic waterbottles and refill them with inferior products. The refilled containersmay then be passed off as containing their original content. Thispractice may deprive the original supplier of the container of salesthat are diverted to the refilled containers. The passing off ofinferior products may tarnish the reputation of the original supplier.The practice of reusing containers may erode consumer confidence in thegoods delivered in containers that are known to be subject to reuse.

Various tamper evident closures have been devised and are used toprovide some assurance that a container has not been opened after theinitial sealing. Unscrupulous vendors may obtain new closures that arefacsimiles of the original closure and thereby reseal a reused containersuch that it is not evident that the container has been refilled.

It would be desirable to provide a container where refilling andresealing the container is readily evident to a consumer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which likereferences indicate similar elements. Elements that differ in the mostsignificant digit (hundreds) indicate similar elements in differentembodiments.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a first embodiment with a closure.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the first embodiment without the closure.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the first embodiment after opening.

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the first embodiment closure afteropening.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the first embodiment closure afteropening.

FIG. 6 is a section view of the first embodiment with the closure alongsection line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cut-away and exploded view of a second embodiment with aclosure.

FIG. 8 is a cut-away view of the second embodiment with the closure asinitially sealed.

FIG. 9 is a cut-away view of the second embodiment with the closure asre-sealed.

FIG. 10 is a pictorial view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a section view of the third embodiment with the closure asinitially sealed along section line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a section view of the third embodiment with the closure asre-sealed along section line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a pictorial view of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a pictorial view of the fourth embodiment with a closure asinitially sealed.

FIG. 17 is a pictorial view of the fourth embodiment with the closurepartially removed.

FIG. 18 is a pictorial view of the fourth embodiment with the closurefully removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 6 show a container 10 and a closure 18. The container may bea plastic container such as a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle.The container may be a finished product. The container may be anintermediate product that will be further processed such as an injectionmolded PET preform having a finish (neck portion) that provides astructure to receive a closure such as a bottle cap. The furtherprocessing of the container may be a process to form the body of thecontainer below the finish such as stretch blow molding of a PETpreform.

FIGS. 1 to 6 show a finish 12 on the container 10. The finish 12includes a first engagement structure 16 such as a raised ridge aroundthe circumference of the finish. The closure 18 includes a secondengagement structure 32 that engages the first engagement structure 16to secure the closure to the finish portion 12 of the container 10.

The finish 12 includes a frangible portion 20 that engages the closure18 when the closure is secured to the container 10. The frangibleportion 20 is arranged such that it must be separated from the remainingportion of the finish 12 to remove the closure 18 from the container 10.The frangible portion 20 may be arranged to allow it to be broken ortorn away from the remaining portion of the finish 12.

The finish 12 includes a mouth 14 that provides the opening of thecontainer 10 when the container is later opened by the consumer. Thefrangible portion 20 may include a tube 24 that includes the firstengagement structure 16 and extends upwardly from the mouth 14. Thefrangible connector 22 that joins the frangible portion 20 to theremaining portion of the finish 12 may be adjacent the mouth 14.

The finish 12 may include a fourth engagement structure 26 below thefrangible connector 22 and a fifth engagement structure 28 above thefrangible connector. The frangible portion 20 may be retained by theclosure 18 such that the fifth engagement structure 28 functions as partof the closure as best seen in FIG. 4, which shows the closure afterbeing removed from a sealed container 10. FIG. 3 shows the container 10after the closure 18 has been removed.

After the frangible portion 20 is separated from the remaining portionof the finish 12 by breaking or tearing the frangible connector 22 toremove the closure 18 from the container 10, the frangible portioneffectively becomes part of the closure. The frangible portion 20 addsthe fifth engagement structure 28 to secure the closure 18 to thecontainer 10 by engaging the fourth engagement structure 26 on theremaining portion of the finish 12. Means of preventing relativerotation between the closure 18 and the frangible portion 20 may beprovided to assist with initial removal of the frangible portion andsubsequent resealing using the fifth engagement structure 28. Forexample, the frangible portion 20 may include pegs 42 that engagerecesses 44 in the closure 18.

The closure 18 may be secured to the container 10 by engaging the fourthengagement structure 26 only when the frangible portion 20 is separatedfrom the remaining portion of the finish 12. The first engagementstructure 16 will not secure the closure 18 to the container 10 when thefrangible portion 20 is separated from the remaining portion of thefinish 12.

The first engagement structure 16 may provide a snap-on engagement ofthe closure 18 when the frangible portion 20 is joined to the remainingportion of the finish 12. The sealed containers 10 may be subject todamage by breaking the frangible connector 22 if a downward force isapplied to the closure 18 after initial sealing. A support ring 34 maybe provided on the closure 18. The support ring 34 may bear against aflange 38 on the finish 12 that is below the frangible connector 22. Thesupport ring 34 may protect the frangible connector 22 from applieddownward forces. Means for removing the support ring 34 during or afterremoval of the closure 18 may be provided. For example, a pull tab 36may allow the support ring 34 to be torn away along a parting line. Itmay be necessary to remove the support ring 34 before the closure 18 canbe used to recluse the container 10. The support ring 34 may provide anadditional snap-on engagement 40 to secure the closure 18 to thecontainer 10 when initially sealed.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a second embodiment of a finish 112 and a closure 118.In many regards the second embodiment is similar to the first embodimentas shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. Elements of the second embodiment that aresimilar to elements of the first embodiment have reference numerals thatare increased by one hundred.

In the second embodiment, the first engagement structure 116 may be aresilient flange that snaps into a recess 132 near the top of theclosure 118. A spline-like feature 142 may be provided on the frangibleportion 120 of the finish 112 to engage a corresponding feature 144 onthe closure 118 and prevent relative rotation between the frangibleportion and the closure.

A sliding resilient seal 152 may be fitted to the closure 118. Thesliding resilient seal 152 may slide along a central post 146 formed inthe closure 118 from a first position near the bottom of the post asshown in FIG. 8 to a second position near the top of the post as shownin FIG. 9. The sliding resilient seal 152 may enable the closure 118 toseal the container in the two distinctly different configurations ofinitial sealing as shown in FIG. 8 and resealing after opening by theconsumer as shown in FIG. 9.

FIGS. 10 to 14 show a third embodiment of a container 210 and a closure218. In many regards the third embodiment is similar to the first andsecond embodiments as shown in FIGS. 1 to 9. Elements of the thirdembodiment that are similar to elements of the first embodiment havereference numerals that are increased by two hundred.

In the third embodiment, a tube portion 224 of the frangible portion 220may include protrusions 216 that engage recesses 232 on the closure 218.This engagement may hold the closure 218 on the container 210 uponinitial sealing and prevent relative rotation between the frangibleportion 220 and the closure. The closure 218 may include a protrusion248 that fits closely to the inside of the tube 224 of the frangibleportion 220 to reinforce the engagement between the frangible portion220 and the closure.

When the consumer removes the closure 218 by breaking or tearing thefrangible connectors 222, the frangible portion 220 retained by theclosure can slide inside the mouth 214 of the container 210 allowing thefifth engagement structure 228 of the closure to engage the fourthengagement structure 226 for resealing. If the closure 218 includes asupport ring 234, the support ring may have to be removed beforeresealing the container 210.

FIGS. 15 to 18 show a fourth embodiment of a container 310 and a closure318. In many regards the fourth embodiment is similar to the firstembodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. Elements of the fourth embodimentthat are similar to elements of the first embodiment have referencenumerals that are increased by three hundred.

The finish 312 includes a flange 330 below the first engagementstructure 316, a post 320 that extends upwardly from the flange adjacentto the first engagement structure, and a frangible connector 322 thatjoins the post to the flange. The closure 318 includes an arm 350 with asecond engagement structure 332. The closure 318 is initially sealedsuch that the closure must be rotated to unseal the container. As theclosure 318 is rotated the arm 350 and second engagement structure 332engage the frangible portion 20 of the post 320. This requires that thefrangible portion 320 be separated from the finish 312 at the frangibleconnector 322 to remove the closure from the container 310 as shown byFIGS. 17 and 18. The frangible portion 322 may be retained by the secondengagement structure 332 on the closure 318 after being separated fromthe finish 312.

The first engagement structure 316 used in the fourth embodiment may beused to secure the closure 318 to the container 310 both for initialsealing and for resealing. The first engagement structure 316 may be ascrew thread as shown in the Figures. The closure 318 may need to besealed to the container 310 without substantial rotation because of thepost 320. This may require initial application of the closure 318 by asnap-on method such as “thread jumping” of a screw thread type firstengagement structure 316.

All the features disclosed in this specification (including anyaccompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be combined in anycombination, except in combinations of features that are mutuallyexclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification (including anyaccompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced byalternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose,unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly statedotherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a genericseries of equivalent or similar features.

1. A container comprising: a finish that includes a mouth, a firstengagement structure that secures a closure to the finish, and afrangible portion that engages the closure such that the frangibleportion must be separated from the finish at a frangible connector toremove the closure from the container.
 2. The container of claim 1wherein the frangible portion of the finish includes a tube includingthe first engagement structure that extends upwardly from the mouth, andthe frangible connector is adjacent the mouth.
 3. The container of claim1 wherein: the finish includes a fourth engagement structure below thefrangible connector and a fifth engagement structure above the frangibleconnector; and the frangible portion is coupled to the closure such thatthe fifth engagement structure engages the fourth engagement structureto secure the closure to the container when the frangible portion isseparated from the finish.
 4. The container of claim 1 wherein thefinish includes a fourth engagement structure below the frangibleconnector to secure the closure to the container only when the frangibleportion is separated from the finish.
 5. The container of claim 1wherein the first engagement structure will not secure the closure tothe container when the frangible portion is separated from the finish.6. The container of claim 1 wherein the first engagement structureprovides a snap-on engagement with the closure when the frangibleportion is joined to the finish.
 7. The container of claim 1 wherein thefinish includes a flange below the first engagement structure, a postthat extends upwardly from the flange adjacent to the first engagementstructure, and a frangible connector that joins the post to the flange.8. The container of claim 1 wherein the frangible portion is adapted tobe retained by the closure after being separated from the finish.
 9. Incombination, a container and a closure, comprising: a second engagementstructure on the closure; and a finish on the container, the finishincluding a mouth, a first engagement structure that secures the closureto the finish, and a frangible portion that engages the closure suchthat the frangible portion must be separated from the finish to removethe closure from the container.
 10. The combination of claim 9 whereinthe frangible portion of the finish includes a tube including the firstengagement structure that extends upwardly from the mouth, and thefrangible connector is adjacent the mouth.
 11. The combination of claim9 wherein: the finish includes a fourth engagement structure below thefrangible connector and a fifth engagement structure above the frangibleconnector; and the frangible portion is coupled to the closure such thatthe fifth engagement structure engages the fourth engagement structureto secure the closure to the container when the frangible portion isseparated from the finish.
 12. The combination of claim 9 wherein thefinish includes a fourth engagement structure below the frangibleconnector to secure the closure to the container only when the frangibleportion is separated from the finish.
 13. The combination of claim 9wherein the first engagement structure will not secure the closure tothe container when the frangible portion is separated from the finish.14. The combination of claim 9 wherein the first engagement structureprovides a snap-on engagement with the closure when the frangibleportion is joined to the finish.
 15. The combination of claim 9 whereinthe finish includes a flange below the first engagement structure, apost that extends upwardly from the flange adjacent to the firstengagement structure, and a frangible connector that joins the post tothe flange.
 16. The combination of claim 9 wherein the frangible portionis adapted to be retained by the closure after being separated from thefinish.